At a glance headlines: February 26, 2015

More funding for disability sport, the chance to take part in Rugby World Cup 2015 ceremonies and a range of new resources are among the SecEd at a glance headlines for February 26, 2015

Disability sport

The government has pledged £300,000 to help get more young disabled people into playing sport. The money will allow the Project Ability programme to expand its work. Managed by the Youth Sport Trust, the programme delivers specialist training to teachers and organises school visits from Paralympians. As part of Project Ability, 49 schools act as centres of excellence for disability sport. Last year, the project saw 100 events staged for more than 1,650 teachers and school staff. Visit: http://bit.ly/1vrMYOG

Send My Friend

In 2000, world leaders pledged a universal primary education by 2015, but 58 million children are still out of school worldwide, with girls and those in conflict zones hardest hit. The new Send My Friend to School campaign has launched with a free resource pack for key stages 1 to 4 and a range of classroom activities available online. The campaign asks young people in the UK to create a 3D figure of themselves as a world leader and then to tell politicians what needs to be done. Visit: www.sendmyfriend.org

Palliative care

An interactive resource giving schools information and support to help children with life-limiting conditions has been published. Helping Children Who Need Palliative Care to Access Education has been created by the charity Together for Short Lives. The resource includes advice on the new SEND reforms and provides information for SENCOs, school leaders, governors and teachers, among others. Visit: www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/sendresources

Literacy blogs

Award-winning author Sita Brahmachari will be providing weekly blogs based on children’s literacy and literature as part of her new role as the writer in residence for charity Booktrust. Acclaimed for her human rights writing and for her dyslexia-friendly book Brace Mouth, False Teeth, Ms Brahmachari will take on the role for six months from this week. Many of the blogs will be aimed at young people themselves. Visit: www.booktrust.org.uk

Rugby World Cup

Students from schools across the country are to be involved with the Rugby World Cup 2015 when it takes place in England and Wales in September. School children are to be part of the welcome ceremonies for the 20 competing teams and schools can apply now via the Youth Sport Trust for the chance to be involved. The deadline for applications is March 22. Visit: http://bit.ly/17pCZy9

Discussing 9/11

The Since 9/11 UK charity has launched its third annual 9/11 National Schools Competition, which is aimed at getting students to think about the issues around the attacks in New York in 2001. Aimed at 13 to 16-year-olds, this year’s challenge is to answer the question “How did 9/11 change the world?” via an essay or short film. The deadline is March 27. Visit: http://since911.com